Method and apparatus for imprinting ID information into a digital content and for reading out the same

A method for distributing a digital content on a computer network, said method comprising:

• receiving via the computer network a request for a digital content from an information terminal, the request identifying the information terminal or a user thereof;
• obtaining an encoded version of the digital content;
• generating a decoding program such that ID information representing the information terminal or user is embedded therein, and wherein the decoding program is programmed to perform the function of decoding the encoded digital content at the information terminal to produce a decoded digital content having the ID information imprinted therein without additional explicit ID verification being performed at the information terminal by the user thereof;
• transmitting via the computer network the decoding program to the information terminal;
• and
• transmitting via the computer network the encoded digital content to the information terminal in response to the request.

A method for distributing digital content, comprising:

• receiving a request for digital content from an information terminal;
• obtaining an encoded version of the digital content;
• generating a decoding program that can concurrently decode the encoded digital content, read an identification code from the information terminal, and imprint the identification code on the digital content;
• sending the encoded digital content and the decoding program together to the information terminal;
• and
• concurrently decoding the encoded digital content, reading an identification code from the information terminal, and imprinting the identification code on the digital content at the information terminal.